Conformator



Feb. 5, 1935. R. L. CARVER ET Al. 1,989,680

CONFOHMATOR Filed -April 14, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l/ f4 Y uw Feb. 5*,1935. R. l.. CARVER ET Al.

C ONF ORMATOR Filed April 14, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 12.71] UBBINE E lTTDJPNEY Feb. 5, 1935. R CARVER ET AL 1,989,680

CONFORMATOR Filed April 14, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 l EJE; ,es

@W5/@DHS lYl/ EQE VER IZLZ'EUBBINS Feb.5,1935. R. L. CARVER Erm.1,989,680

CONFORMATOR Filed'April 14, 1952 4 Sheets-sheet 4 gTTUFNEl/ PatentedFeb. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONFORMATOR Application April14, 1932, Serial No. 605,224

10 Claims.

Our invention is a conformator to develop a form for clothes or dressmaking. It is of the type in which a large number of rods mounted toslide longitudinally may be thrust in an inward direction to engage thebody of a person standing in the center of the conformator.

In a conformator of the above mentioned type, one of the objects andfeatures of our invention is the construction by which all of the rodsmay be moved inwardly simultaneously, the rods being mounted in adivided cabinet structure, and upright front and back sections to engagethe front and back of the person whose form is being taken.

In this connection a further object and feature of our invention ismoving all of the rods in each half of the divided cabinet by expansibleair bags, these bags preferably being formed of rubber to thrust all therods inwardly with a yielding type of support so that the inner ends ofthe rods make an outline of the form of the body of the person in thecabinet. One of the characteristics of using the expansible rubber bagsis that the pressure is yielding and thus cannot injure or causediscomfort tothe person whose form is being taken.

Another detailed feature of our invention to obtain a substantially trueform is mounting pivoted feet or shoes on the inner end of each rod.These shoes have a universal joint mounting to allow them to tilt toobtain a more accurate conformity to the shape of a persons body.

Another object and feature of our invention is in a positive locking orbinding device to secure all of the rods on each side of the cabinet,that is, on the front and rear, so that when these are adjusted toconform to the shape of the body, all of the rods may simultaneously belocked, then the cabinet may be opened and the person whose form isbeing taken may step out of the cabinet.

In this connection a further detailed object and feature of ourinvention is providing a guide structure for the rods, this preferablybeing two parallel plates spaced apart and having rectangular openingsfor squared section rods. In conjunction with these two guide platesthere is a central moving and locking plate sliding in guides, which maybe shifted by a locking handle on the outside or the cabinet to slidethe moving plate, which plate is provided with circular openings andengages the rounded corners of the squared section rods. This gives aclamping or friction grip. In addition to the above mentioned manner ofsecuring the sliding rods we employ a ratchet latch which is providedwith a stationary ratchet bar and apvot pawl. This pawl engages theratchet when the rods are in their adjusted position. Then a movement ofthe locking arm in a sliding direction gives a longitudinal movement toa rack. This rack rotates a pinion and such pinion operates a shaft Withan eccentric section. The eccentric section has a connection to a movingbar which moves transversely of the cabinet, which bar is connected atits end to one of the movable locking plates.

Another detailed feature comprises forming the l0 cabinet with astationary and a moving section, the moving section being on the wheelsand each section preferably being in upper and lower parts so that thecabinet may be disassembled into four units. By this construction thelower portions l5 may be supports and a number of dilferent heights maybe provided, or the person whose form is to be taken may stand on boxesor supports of different heights.

Another feature of our invention relates to the manner of making apermanent form for clothes or dress making in which we use the shapemade by the ends of the rods and the shoes thereon as a mold. In thismold we insert a rubber bag, which bag may then be lled with a quicksetting material, such as a light weight mixture of plaster of Paris.The rubber bag may have small bags attached thereto to form the shape oithe arms or separate small bags may be used for this purpose. By thismethod we form a solid cast which has the body shape of the person whoseform has been taken.

Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the cabinet with parts broken away.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3 in the directionof the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 in thedirection of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Figs. 1 and 6 in thedirection of the arrows, showing part of the locking cam shaft and thehand power operation thereof.

Fig. 5 is a detail partial front elevation taken in the direction oi thearrow 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5 in thedirection of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a detail horizontal section on the line 7-7 ofFig. 5 in thedirection of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2 of one ofthe rods and the supporting guide plates and locking plate.

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of one of the rods, showing the universallymounted shoe thereon. 55

Fig. 10 is a detail vertical section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 2 in thedirection of the arrows, showing the connecting elements for the lowerand upper sections of the cabinet.

In constructing our invention, we utilize a cabinet structure 11 whichhas a rear section 12 and a front'section 13, there being angle tracks14 at the bottom on which the front section may roll on the wheelszl.Each section of the cabinet has a lower part v,16 andan upper part 17.These sections are each constructed with a frame 18, which frame hasvertical angle corner posts 19, longitudinal side bars 20 at the bottomand top, and cross bars 21 at the bottom and top 4connecting thevertical cornerI bars.

of the cabinet. Each section of the top is provided with an opening 23through which extend ther neck and head of the person whose formis beingtaken. In the construction illustrated the Wheels l'a're mounted in thelongitudinal side bars 26.

At thesides these angles are mounted on a pairof` inner angles 26, whichangles have inturned anges spaced apart Vas indicated at 27 toaccommodate the center sliding or locking plate 26. This plate at thebottom rests in a channel 29 and `at the top this plate is guidedbetween two angles 30. It will thus be seen that there are two fixedplates 24 spaced apart and ,held rigidly, these plates being vertical,and between these there is the central moving locking plate 28,which'slides transversely across each of the upper sections of thecabinet.

The con-forming rods 31 are preferably square in cross section, havingrounded corners 32. At the outer ends they are provided with a button 33and at the inner end with a shoe 34. This shoe is `illustrated as formedof a metal plate 35 having a universal joint connection 36 tothe endsVof the rods. Thisjoint is indicated as having a vertical-pivot 37 inthe ends of the rods. A yoke 38 lis pivoted on thesepivots and isprovided with lateral ears 39, which ears are provided with horizontalpivots 40 which engage small brackets 4l on vthe shoe plates. Thisprovides a universal `jointallow'ing these plates to swivel on bothvertical and horizontal pivots. These pivots are made fric'tionallystilto prevent the plates tilting edgewise tothe direction of travel ofthe rods.

The rods are moved by means of an inflatable bag 42 each upper sectionof the. cabinet. AThese bags at the outside bear against a verticalplate 43 and at the sidesfagainst two opposite side plates 44, thesebeing built into the cabinet. At the top and bottom there are guidevrods 45 which have vrings 46 thereon secured to the top `and bottom ofthe bag. yA yflexible air hose 47 is connected to each bag so that thebags may be infiated to any desired pressure and by pressing on thebuttons 33 on the ends of the rods thrust the rods inwardly. The personwhose form is to be taken enters the cabinet when the front section ispulled apart from the rear sec-- tion, then with the rods thrustoutwardly .and ,the bagsjcollapsed the sections of rthe cabinet aremoved together and attached -byhools and eyes 48. The person may standon a box or pedestal so that his neck will extend through the opening 23with the head above the cabinet Vand the shoulders inside of thecabinet. The shoulders should be belowthe upper row of rods. These rods31 are Cover panels.V 22 may be utilized to enclose the sides and topshoes will tilt to conform to the angle at which the 'rods meet thebody, and as the rods are guided in a rectilinear movement they cannottwist or turn on account of being square. The rubber bags, therefore,give a resilient support to the rods and apply pressure so gently thatthey will not injure or discomfort the person whose form is being taken.

The locking arrangement utilizes a fixed straight ratchet 49,y which issecured to the lower longitudinal side bar 2O of theupper section 17 ofeach cabinet, this ratchet bar preferably tting on the upper edge ofsuchside bar. A guide block 50 .is tted in the angle of the angle bar;This has a vertical section 51 and a horizontal section 52. The verticalsection is provided with a guide groove 53, from which extends alongitudinal slot 54. A cylindrical handle bar 55 extends through f thisslot and has a handle end 56 on the outside of the cabinet. The innerend of the rod connects to a rack 57, which rack has a base 58 slidablein the groove 53 and has ya toothed section 59 extending outwardlythrough an opposite groove 60 in the vertical section 51 of the block50. A pawl 61 has a hub 62 mounted on the rod 55. It is provided with atooth 63 to engage the straight ratchet 49. A finger-operating end 64extends outwardly through a slot 65 in the side panel 22 of the sidesection v17 of the cabinet. The end, therefore, may be engaged by thefingers when all of therods have been thrust inwardly to their fullextent, this tilting the pawl until the tooth engages with the ratchet49. Such construction is used to hold the rack 57 in its lockingposition, but prior to engaging the pawl with its ratchet the handle 56is thrust inwardly toward the center or junction line of the cabinets.The rack causes a rotation of the rack pinion 66 which is mounted on arotatable cam shaft 67, one end 68 of which shaft 67 is journaled in theend 52 of the block 50 and thevother end in a bearing 69 in the top ofthe cabinet secured to the top longitudinal side bar y20. A cam oreccentric section 70 of this shaft operates through cam slots 7l in aseries of transverse slidable bars 72. These bars extend through slots73 in one of the xed guide plates 24 and are attached, preferably, by anangular bent end as indicated at 74 to the slidable locking plate28.Therefore, the cam or eccentric section 70 causes a lateral or crossmovement of the plate 28. Plate 28 has circular open'- Aings 75surrounding each of the rods, and Ythis forwardly sufciently for themodel to step out of the cabinet. A base block 78 is fitted across thelower end of the mold and is supported on the stationary section of thecabinet, such mold being designated generally by the numeral '79 formedby the shoes on the ends of the rods 31. A rubber bag 80 is iitted inthe mold. This bag has a bottom 8l which rests on the block 78 and aneck 82 which extends through the opening 23. The bag is then iilledwith a quick-setting composition 83 which may be plaster of Parisincorporated with some material giving body but having light weight.This sets quickly after forcing the rubber bag into close contact withall of the shoes. In order to mold the arm sections, the rubber bag maybe made with small rubber bags forming the arms connected thereto, orthese may be molded separately. It is, however, preferable to mold thebody form and arm forms together, then on separation of the cabinetthese may be taken out of such cabinet as a unit. The rubber bag isprovided with a lap or equivalent joint 84 which is provided withfasteners. The portion of the bag forming the arm is also provided withjoints 85 having fasteners. 'This allows the rubber bag to be readilytaken off the form and it may be used again. This leaves the plasterform with the arms attached. These arms may then be disconnected when itis desired to fit clothing on the form.

An important and characteristic feature of our invention is that theinatable rubber bags give not only a resilient pressure of the rodsagainst the body of the model but that this pressure is equal on allparts of the body against which the rods press and also at all positionsof the rods, whether the person is thin or stout. The yielding airpressure in the air bags can be adjusted so that the rods will not pressin on the soft or more yielding parts of the body. Thus, a true naturalform may be obtained.

The lower section 16 of the cabinet is secured to the upper part 17 bymeans of pins 76 secured to one of the side bars 20 at the top of thelower section extending through a slot 77 and the side bar 20 on theupper section (note Figs. 2 and l0).

Various changes may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention as dened by theappended claims.

We claim:

1. A conformator having a cabinet with a plurality of slidable rods, aninflatable bag engaging the outer ends of the rods and on inflationforcing the rods to bring the opposite ends into engagement with amodel, such latter` ends conforming tothe figure of the model.

2. A conformator having a cabinet in two vertical sections, each sectionhaving a plurality of rectilineally slidable rods, a rubber bag engagingthe outer ends of the rods in each section, means to simultaneouslyinfiate the bags to press the rods inwardly, the inner ends of said rodsengaging a model with a yielding pressure due to the inflation of thebag.

3. A conformator as claimed in claim 2, the inner ends of each rodhaving a shoe connected thereto by a universal joint, each shoe beingadapted to tilt angularly on its rod in accordance with the shape of themodel.

4. A conformator having a guide structure with a plurality of rodsmounted therein for rectilinear movement, an inflatable bag engaging theouter ends of such rods and on inflation forcing the rods inwardly tobring the inner ends into contact with a model, and means tosimultaneously engage all of the rods to lock said rods in theirinnermost position irrespective of the deflating of the bag.

5. A conformator having a guide structure with a plurality of slidablerods mounted therein, means to substantially simultaneously move saidrods to bring their inner ends into contact with a model, a shiftablelocking plate having perforations with the rods extending therethrough,and means to move said plate to engage each rod and thereby lock the rodin its inwardly movable position and means to positively lock said platewhen moved to locking position.

6. A oonformator having a cabinet with a pair of spaced guide platestherein, said plates having aligned openings with slidable rods mountedtherein, means to move said rods to bring their inner ends into contactwith a model, a third and locking plate in addition to the fixed platesand having openings for passage of said rods, said latter plate in oneposition being out of contact with the rods and being shiftable toengage each rod, thereby retaining such rod in its innermost position, ahand operated handle bar extending outside of the cabinet and having aconnection for simultaneously shifting the movable plate, and a lockingmeans to retain said plate in shifted position.

7. A conformator having a guide structure with guides therein for aplurality of slidable rods, means to slide said rods to bring theirinner ends into contact with a model, a slidable locking plate having anopening through which each rod extends, said plate in one position beingout of contact with the rods, a slidably mounted handle bar, aninterconnecting means between the handle and the locking plate to movesuch plate, and a pawl and ratchet construction to retain the movingmeans in the locking position of said locking plate.

8. A conformator having a guide structure with a plurality ofrectilineally slidable rods mounted therein, means to slide said rods tobring the inner ends into engagement with a model, a slidable lockingplate having openings through which said rods extend, a bar connected tosaid plate to move same, a shaft having a cam engaging said bar, aslidable handle, a connection between said handle and the cam to rotatethe cam on a sliding movement of the handle and thereby move the lockingplate, and means to lock the handle and, hence, the plate in its lookedposition engaging said rods.

9. A conformator having a guide structure with a plurality ofrectilineally slidable rods therein, means to move said rods to bringtheir inner ends into engagement with a model, a slidable locking platehaving an opening through which each rod extends, a rotatable cam havinga connection to said plate, said cam being on a shaft, a gear on theshaft engaging a movable rack, said rack being connected to a slidablehandle, and means to latch the handle with the locking plate shifted toengage each rod at the opening.

10. A conformator as claimed in claim 9, the latching means for thehandle comprising a straight ratchet and a pivoted pawl mounted on thehandle with a nger-operating end extending to a position adjacent suchhandle.

RALPH L. CARVER. DONALD T. ROBBINS.

